Came here at the end of a long day of traveling/touring Lisbon. The restaurant was conveniently located right across from our hotel, and we showed up 10 minutes before opening to secure a table for 4 without a reservation. Restaurant was full within 20 minutes after opening, as the space is pretty small. We ordered a pot of the seafood rice and a pot of the fish rice, which were pretty similar dishes. Service was a little slow (even for Europe) but there was basically only two (maybe three?) people running the whole restaurant on that Sunday evening. The seafood rice was basically like a tomato-ey, seafood porridge that had amazing flavor. The portion meant for 2 was quite large, but us weary travelers happily gulped it all down. Would especially recommend this spot if you're looking for a break from tapas-style meals. Note that it's cash-only, so be prepared. read more

Wonderful lunch in a small place. We had the seafood rice for two. It is in a red sauce with a lot of clams, muscles, and some shrimp. The flavors were terrific. Good yelp recommendation. They only take cash. read more

Just a Great casual place with awesome food. We found it just by walking by and realized after that it was so highly rated on Yelp. Soul food, cozy interior and the owner(?) serving. Was on of the best octopus dishes we ever had. Pair that with house wine (3.5€/0.5L) and you got a great lunch. read more

Food was fine, was a bit surprised by the cost and the sauteed shrimp (maybe it is a Euro thing but it isn't depooped lol). The shrimp was flavorful though but the bread and potatoes were bland. There was plenty of seating so that was a plus. It is a bit run down but the place is still a nice stop to go to along you day. read more

This is not traditional Portuguese food. Half the dishes are made with curry, every single customer was a foreigner during my visit, and the wall is papered with currency from all the tourists. The good was tasty, including the chicken curry (comparable to English quality). The service was a bit off, with just one waiter serving ten tables, busing all of them, and answering the phone. I would eat here again if I lived in Lisbon, but since I am visiting I want authentic local food. The high rating on yelp taught me not to trust yelp in foreign countries. read more

Busy seafood restaurant in busy neighborhood. Interesting menu and fun wine list. Good basic fare and friendly service. read more

This place has wonderful seafood! The service went above and beyond. Only downfall is they are only open for dinner, we would have gone back the next day for lunch if they were open. But, being that they were not open for lunch I asked the owner where he suggested for lunch and he had a great recommendation for us. So, win win! read more

This was the best choice of restaurant to compliment my maiden visit to the beautiful country of Portugal. I picked this place purely based on the reviews I read on yelp and the experience lived up to my expectations. The seafood Catapalan good for two to share was so flavorful. The seafood was very fresh and the taste, delicious! I reserved a place to come back the next day for dinner and was happy once again. The shrimp curry bursted with flavor and the roasted cod cooked to perfection. The overall experience was also very intimate. Make reservations in advance. Highly recommended. read more

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Outstanding! Had the Seafood fit for 2-3 ppl. highly recommended. Be sure to reserve as places in Lisbon tend to be smaller with family run restos read more

Restaurante O Arco - Highly recommended, seafood for 2-3 ppl simply delish. - Portuguese Near Me - Lisbon, 11

While walking in Alfama came to the restaurant and it was a pleasure. We order the garlic shrimp for starter and was so delicious! Then I have the octopus rice which was more like a soup but oh boy it was delicious. My lady had the Portuguese pork and also was great. They serve bread and olives with different butters! For dessert I had the flan and my lady cream brûlée's . Al this plus water for 47 euros. read more

Exactly what i was looking for in Portugal. Great seafood and nice ppl. Nice wine and good beer

The staff was very attentive, the food was deliciously prepared and the prices very reasonable, particularly for a restaurant within the tourist district! This is the second time I've been here and it doesn't disappoint. I definitely recommend it. read more

We had a lovely dinner here tonight. Alan found it on Yelp and called for a 7:00 reservation. It's a good thing he did, because several parties w/o reservations were turned away. We took a taxi here from the hotel, through an archway onto a narrow street. Baixa is the district we stayed our first night, having to leave because the elevator to our 3rd floor flat was broken and we couldn't do that climb. We left the neighborhood w/ great reluctance and were happy to return to it tonight. We arrived about 10 minutes before their 7:00 opening so we crossed the street to a store selling t-shirts and other tourist paraphernalia and Alan bought a handsome green t-shirt. After that we returned to the restaurant, which was open. We were greeted, seated and given menus. I ordered a small bottle of a Portuguese red recommended by the owner. I forget its name, but it was delicious. Alan had water. We decided to share a large mixed salad and a seafood rice for two. The salad came w/ olive oil, vinegar, pepper and salt for a dressing. I mixed the first three and it was quite tasty, w/ some of the sweetest tomatoes I've had in a while and sweet carrots along w. lettuce, cucumbers and sliced onions. Alan requested bread and some was brought. Then the seafood rice was served. We were both expecting something more paella-like, but this had more liquid, like a cioppino or a bouillabaisse. It was tomato based and very flavorful w/o being spicy. There was so much we couldn't finish it, though we did our best and picked out every bit of seafood we could find. It was marvelous. As other reviews have stated, they don't take credit cards, so bring cash. After dinner they called us a taxi which brought us back to the hotel. read more

Food is AMAZING! We had the seafood dish and it was delicious. I would definitely recommend making a reservation or calling ahead to make sure you can just walk in. The food does take some time to get to you, but you won't be disappointed. read more

The cataplana de marisco was incredible. It was a lot of food to split between two people, but we had no trouble finishing all of it. HIGHLY recommend. read more

Restaurante O Arco - Cataplana de marisco - Portuguese Near Me - Lisbon, 11

Excellent food and best attention, great environment. We had the chicken curry, salmon, and veal. Everything was to die for.

We arrived just before last seating and had an excellent meal of veal (for him) and sea bass (for me). We felt like our meals were well prepared, delicious, and a good value for what we paid. The wine was also great and good value. Service was wonderful! read more

We tried the seafood rice dish and the grilled bacalau with potatoes and mixed vegetables. The seafood rice dish had an amazing flavor and it was addicting. We went back a few nights later to order it again. The grilled bacalau was cooked perfectly and it was the best salted cod we tried while in lisbon. We tried other bacalau dishes at time out market and other places but those were not comparable. Prices were very affordable and fair compare to other restaurants you find around town. Make sure you make reservation a day or two in advance. read more

I want to love this place. I really do. The octopus was soft but the flavors just didn't hit home. The owner is charming but the food leaves much to desire especially in a seafood destination like Portugal/Lisbon. read more

This was like eating at someone's home. The sea bass was not only fresh it was huge, approximately 2 lbs per order. The Portuguese veal and chicken curry were very yummie. Service was amazing all by one person, Emanuel. We asked for red wine and let Emanuel choose, he choose Pacheca superia 2014, a favorite of ours. Definitely a recommend!!!! read more

Excellent small place, 7 or 8 tables. Centrally located but did not feel touristy. We were the only people not speaking Portuguese. We had the seafood cataplana. Wonderful, fresh with lots of different varieties of fish and shellfish. read more

Exactly what we wanted. The seafood rice was full of all kinds of shellfish. Delicious

Right near our hotel so had our first meal after checking in here. It was the best meal of the trip even after going to Michelin star restaurants! We shared the seafood stew for lunch and it was more than enough. Also a "glass" of wine is really a small carafe plus a glass. AMAZING!!! Would go back to Lisbon just to eat here. read more

I wish I could give this place less than one star based solely on the owner's behavior. We went in one night with another family - a total of nine people. The owner took our order (our kids weren't hungry so only the adults were eating) and then left. We ordered appetizers, entrees, drinks and a bottle of wine. The owner came back a few minutes later angry. He was upset that the kids were taking up seats and not eating. He told us several times that they shouldn't be at the table if they are not eating. We grew very uncomfortable and left. It's a small restaraunt so everyone was able to see exactly what was going on. He didn't seem to care. His server was definitely embarrassed. It's shocking that someone in the hospitality business was so inhospitable. This is certainly not a family friendly restaurant. read more

We ordered seafood rice! It is marvelous and really delicious. This is the best seafood rice I have ever eaten! The seafood are very fresh,they have a lot of crab,big shrimps and clams. The tomato sauce taste really good! I want to come again read more

Restaurante O Arco - Portuguese Near Me - Lisbon, 11

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The food, wine and atmosphere are excellent. I highly recommend this restaurant. I had the octopus and shrimp cataplana.

So, I think I dont have words to explain what I experienced today in this place. The restaurant was good, the staff was nice and the food was just terrific... and from my point of view cheap. Five stars, 3 tenedores or whatever the rate... I really enjoyed... read more

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We had the seafood rice and it was amazing. Very different to any other similar dish but filled with seafood and very flavorful. The rice is pretty soupy so if you don't like that style then pick another entree. Service was excellent. Highly recommend it. read more

I came across this place my first night in Lisbon which was closed for the time being. I came back the next day for a party of 6 with reservations. This place is small so I recommend reserving before hand as I saw so many rejected until later hours. We ordered the seafood cataplana and the octopus w/ shrimp rice both for three people . Everything we ordered was very enjoyable they definitely fit the cold breezy weather. The wait for food is quite long as they make the dishes right there & then. It was very worth the wait. read more

One of the best meals in Lisbon, if not the best. Such warm service, perfectly attentive and very generous. Ordered the seafood rice for two and it was so deliciously seasoned and fresh. read more

do NOT go there. I called twice two days in a row to make a reservation, and they were really rude and just hung up. I also visited twice to check whether any table was available, and the owner gave me a very bad attitude, pushing us out the door. There are other stellar places in Lisbon for this cuisine, and coming here will be just waste of your time. read more

This was our first time in Lisbon. We saw good reviews on Yelp and thought we'd give it a try. We had the seafood cataplana, and it was fantastic, full of seafood! It was more than enough for two. Also the cheese and bread we're very good. The restaurant is small and was very busy, but the one person serving in the dining room found us a spot on the end of a table where another couple we're dining. The service was very good, even for just one person serving. I will come back again if I have the chance. read more

HORRIBLE!!!!!! Please don't go. It smells horrible, it's dirty and I never smelt such a rude restaurant owner. He locked his door at 9pm, with people still eating inside. He opened to let us in but after the really bad smell and the dirty tables we decided to leave. When he saw us getting up, he came to the table and literally pushed us out of his doors, screaming "get out, get out!!" and locked the door right back after he pushed us using his hands. I am so glad we decided to get up and leave. not eat there. We were two nicely dressed up ladies in our thirties and I am just shocked to have been treated this way. After a situation like this, it is very hard to trust the quality of the food. UNACCEPTABLE. Jennifer. read more

One person didn't feel well and didn't eat everything on the (quite large) plate... the boss became quite aggressive verbally about the food and was very rude after this. The octopus curry was nice, but we didn't like the grilled octopus as much. I will never return in a restauran where I am being judged on the quantity I eat. read more

Very good food and price are reasonable. A pot of seafood rice and house wine for 2 people only cost 26euro! Highly recommended!! read more

Restaurante O Arco - Seafood rice with a lot of seafood! Taste so good! - Portuguese Near Me - Lisbon, 11

This place lived up to other Yelpers review and boy was I glad I came. It took a while but the food is made fresh. We ordered the seafood rice soup and the seafood calunya. As in everywhere in Portugal, we paid to get some bread (boy I miss the free bread in the States). Anyways, the seafood rice soup was awesome. The saltiness was slight and mainly derived from the seafood itself, the rice was cooked softly to the point of begin soft but not mushy. Since it is a seafood rice, the crab is "overcooked" in my mind to "paste" but fine. As for the seafood calunya, it was a bit more tomato-ey and felt like a mini but weaker version of the seafood rice soup. I'd say stick to the seafood rice soup only because this dish would pale in comparison. Service was great. The owner(?) was honest and recommended we cancelled the octopus appetizer as it would be too much food. Too true--those "soup for two" can seriously feed three persons handily. Overall a great place that we may be hankering to go again before leaving Lisbon. read more

There is very little to add to the other reviews: very good food, at very decent prices. The staff is very welcoming, but be prepared to arrive early, or better, book: the place isn't that big, and the kitchen closes at 22:00. It's also probably the first time I ask for a prawn curry and get a dish that really tastes of prawns: very fine ingredients, and a curry that manages to be flavoursome without being overpowering. A word of caution: when they say cuttlefish is an appetizer, you can consider it's a starter - for two. :) read more

This is definitely my favorite in Lisbon! Seafood rice is as smooth as silk. All food here are tasty. The owners are also nice! read more

Restaurante O Arco - Portuguese Near Me - Lisbon, 11

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This review is based solely on customer service and not the quality of the food (since we never got to try it) Tried to eat here a few days ago because of the ratings but they turned us away. They said they cannot accomodate a party of 11. We even said that we don't have to sit together and they won't even take future reservations. Big thumbs down read more

Cataplena de pulpo amazing and huge portion Rice chicken curry as well We went there twice! Free wifi Cb accepted Very nice service read more